The ATP’s Miami Open Masters tournament continues with first-round action on Thursday. We had a lousy day on Wednesday when we cashed in with Donald Young but lost with Martin Klizan and Ryan Harrison. We’ll try to rebound on Thursday. Before Rafael Nadal takes the court on Friday and Roger Federer starts on Saturday, the players at the lower end of the totem pole will try to bag a main-draw match victory and earn some money to provide a cushion and springboard for the rest of the season, particularly the remainder of the fortnight in Crandon Park. Here is a look at our tennis picks for Thursday.
Alexandr Dolgopolov vs. Malek Jaziri
Alexandr Dolgopolov made a slow start to the season but picked pace in the South American clay swing. Dolgopolov collected his first ATP title of the year in Buenos Aires, beating clay specialists Pablo Cuevas, red hot Pablo Carreno Busta and world No. 5 Kei Nishikori in the finals. The fact that he didn’t drop a set the whole tournament says he wasn’t only crushing the ball but also was focused. Just as he started playing at his best possible level, injuries have come along to drag him back. The Ukrainian had to pull out midway through his quarterfinal match against Carrerno Busta in Rio and against Philipp Kohlschreiber, when he was leading by a set in the second round of Indian Wells. Between these tournaments, he suffered a strange first loss to Marin Cilic, when he also got bageled in the deciding set. Dolgopolov’s fitness remains a concern. If he is fit, he’ll blow Malek Jaziri off the court.
Jaziri himself, though, has been in spectacular form. He is a more than decent 10-7 for the season and is fresh from his career best showing at the Indian Wells Masters, where he unexpectedly made the fourth round. Can the 33-year-old tour veteran keep that form going? He might be tired enough that he won’t be able to finish the job here. Take Dolgopolov with your tennis picks in this spot.
Pick: Dolgopolov in three sets
Thomaz Bellucci vs. Stephane Robert
The last time Thomaz Bellucci won back to back matches was in Quito, where he made the semifinals. He played the match of his life to beat Kei Nishikori in the first round of his home event in Rio but was bounced out by Thiago Monteiro in the next round. Bellucci is coming to Miami on back to back first round exits in São Paulo and Indian Wells and is not expected to do any better in Key Biscayne.
At 36, Stephane Robert has done magnificently well to crack the top 50, but this year it took him six first round defeats to register his first win on tour. The French journeyman beat Dudi Sela in the opening round of Indian Wells but was beaten by Roger Federer in the next round. In the battle of two journeymen, picking Bellucci looks like the safer and more logical option for your tennis picks.
Pick: Bellucci in straight sets
Bernard Tomic vs. Mikhail Kukushkin
Bernard Tomic appears to be lost. He has been defeated by random players this year — Dan Evans in Melbourne, unheralded Darian King in Memphis, often injured Steve Darcis in Delray Beach, inconsistent Donald Young in Acapulco, and to Bjorn Fratangelo in Indian Wells. In the last four tournaments Tomic has played, he has gained virtually no points. Tomic doesn’t look motivated, he is far from hungry, and it is clear he doesn’t care. It’s not the losses but the manner in which he gets beaten. These days he loses no matter who the opponent is.
Mikhail Kukushkin made the semifinals in Memphis, lost in two tiebreaks against John Isner in the second round of Indian Wells and then made most of his time by reaching the finals in the Irving Challenger. The man from Kazakhstan has wins under his belt and looks more confident out of the two. It would be a surprise if Tomic comes out victorious. Take him with your tennis picks.
Pick: Kukushkin in three sets
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